Resources & Support

We take great pride in making our clients feel confident about their jobs during the production process. To help you gain a better understanding of what’s happening to your project, we’ve compiled a glossary of terms that we commonly use in our industry.

The light blue color used in the nomenclature of "laid" and "wove" papers.

Back Lining

The fixing of a material, either paper or cloth, to the back of a book before it is bound. Reference: case binding.

Back Margin

A term referring to the margin which lies closest to the back of the book.

Back Step Collation

The collation of book signatures according to reference marks which are printed on the back fold of each section.

Back To Back

Print applied to both sides of a sheet of paper.

Backbone

That portion of the binding, which connects the front of the book with the back of the book; also called "back".

Background

That portion of a photograph or line art drawing that appears furthest from the eye; the surface upon which the main image is superimposed.

Backslant

Any type that tilts to the left or backward direction; opposite of italic type.

Backstep Marks

Marks printed on signatures that indicate where the final fold will occur. When gathering and initial folding is completed, these marks appear as a stepped sequence.

Baking

A term given to the procedure of drying coatings onto papers.

Balance

A term used to describe the aesthetic or harmony of elements, whether they are photos, art or copy, within a layout or design.

Balloon

In an illustration, any line which encircles copy, or dialogue.

Bank Paper

A thin uncoated stock used for making carbon copies.

Banker's Flap Envelope

Also called wallet flap; the wallet flap has more rounded flap edges.

Banner

The primary headline usually spanning the entire width of a page.

Barn Doors

A device with two sets of thin metal doors (horizontal and vertical) placed before a light source to control the direction of light.

Barrier Coat

A coating that is applied onto the non-printing side of paper to add to the opacity of that paper. Reference, opacity.

Baryta Paper

A coated stock (barium sulfate compound) used for text impressions on typesetting machines.

Bas Relief

A three dimensional impression is which the image stands just slightly out from the flat background. References, blind emboss.

Base

The support onto which printing plates is fixed.

Base Film

The foundation material onto which the film positives are stripped for making printing plates. Reference, photomechanical.

Base Line

This is a term used to describe the imaginary horizontal line upon which stand capitals, lower case letters, punctuation points etc.

Basic Size

This term refers to a standard size of paper stock; even though the required size may be smaller or larger.

Basis Weight

Basis or basic weight refers to the weight, in pounds, of a ream (500 sheets) of paper cut to a given standard size for that particular paper grade.

Bauhaus

A design school in Germany where the Sans Serif font was originated.

Bearoff

The adjusting of spacing of type in order to correct the justification.

Bed

The steel flat table of a cylinder printing press upon which the type sits during the printing process.

Bending Chip

A recycled paperboard product used for making folding cartons.

BF

An abbreviation for boldface, used to determine where boldface copy is to be used. Reference, boldface.

Bible Paper

A thin but strong paper (opaque), used for Bibles and books.

Bimetal Plate

A plate which is used in long print runs; the printing image is copper or brass, and the non-printing area is aluminum or stainless steel.

Binder's Board

A heavy paperboard with a cloth covering that is used for hardback binding of books.

Binding

Various methods of securing folded sections together and or fastening them to a cover, to form single copies of a book.

Bite

The etching process in photoengraving requires the application of an acid; the length of time this acid is left to etch out an image is referred to as its bite. The more bites, the deeper the etched area.

Black Letter

An old style of typeface used in Germany in the 15th century, also referred to as Old English (US) and Gothic (UK).

Black Out

Also referred to as black patch; a piece of masking material which is used in layout to mask an area leaving a window into which another element can be stripped.

Black Photo Paper

A black paper used to protect photosensitive materials.

Black Printer

Refers to the film portion of the color separation process that prints black; increases the contrast of neutral tones.

Blackening

Darkening a portion of a sheet of paper due to the excessive pressure of the calendar roll. Reference, calendar.

Blanket

On offset presses a fabric-reinforced sheet of rubber to transfer the impression from the plate onto the paper.

Blanket To Blanket Press

A printing method in which there are two blanket cylinders through which a sheet of paper is passed and printed on both sides.

Bleed

Extra ink area that crosses trim line, used to allow for variations that occur when the reproduction is trimmed or die-cut.

Blind Emboss

A design or bas relief impression that is made without using inks or metal foils.

Blind Embossing

Embossed forms that are not inked, or gold leafed.

Blind Folio

Page number not printed on page.

Blind Image

A problem that arises in the lithography process when an image loses its ink receptivity and fails to print.

Blistering

Although seemingly dry, paper does contain approximately 5% moisture. In cases where there is excessive moisture, and the paper is passed through a high heat-drying chamber, the moisture within the paper actually boils and causes a bubble or blistering effect.

Block

Illustrations or line art etched onto zinc or copper plates and used in letterpress printing.

Block In

To sketch the primary areas and points of reference of an illustration in preparation for going to final design or production.

Block Resistance

The resistance of coated papers to blocking. Reference, blocking.

Blocking

The adhesion of one coated sheet to another, causing paper tears or particles of the coating to shed away from the paper surface.

Blocking Out

To mask a section of an art layout before reproduction.

Blow-up

Any enlargement of photos, copies or line art.

Blue-Line

Photographic proof made from flats for checking accuracy, layout and imposition before plates are made. Also known as a dylux.

Body

The main shank or portion of the letter character other than the ascenders and descenders. Also: A term used to define the thickness or viscosity of printer's ink.

Body Size

The point size of a particular type character.

Boiler Plate

Repetitive blocks of type that are picked up and included routinely without recreating them.

Boldface

Any type that has a heavier black stroke that makes it more conspicuous.

Bolts

The edges of folded sheets of paper, which are trimmed off in the final stages of production.

Bond

A grade of durable writing, printing and typing paper that has a standard size of 17x22 inches.

Book

A general classification to describe papers used to print books; its standard size is 25x38 inches. A printed work which contains more than 64 pages.

Book Block

A term given the unfinished stage of bookmaking when the pages are folded, gathered and stitched-in but not yet cover bound.

Bounce 1

A registration problem, usually on copiers, where the image appears to bounce back and forth. A bounce usually occurs in one direction depending on how the paper is passing through the machine. This is usually accented by card stock (especially if it's over the machine's spec). When a customer refuses a job for whatever reason.

Bourges

A pressure sensitive color film that is used to prepare color art.

Box Cover Paper

A lightweight paper used expressly for covering paper boxes.

Box Enamel Paper

A glossy coated paper used to cover paper boxes.

Box Liners

A coated paper used on the inside of boxes, which are used for food.

Brace

A character " }" used to group lines, or phrases.

Break For Color

In layout design, the term for dividing or separating the art and copy elements into single color paste-up sheets.

Bristol Board

A board paper of various thickness; having a smooth finish and used for printing and drawing.

Broad Fold

A term given to the fold whereby paper is folded with the short side running with the grain.

Brocade

A heavily embossed paper.

Brochure

A pamphlet that is bound in booklet form.

Bronzing

A printing method whereby special ink is applied to sheets and then a powder is applied producing a metallic effect.

Brownline Proof

A photographic proof made by exposing a flat to UV light creating a brown image on a white background. Also referred to as silverprint.

Buckle Folder

A portion of the binding machinery with rollers that fold the paper.

Buckram

A coarse sized cloth used in the bookbinding process.

Bulk

A term given to paper to describe its thickness relative to its weight.

Bulk

A term used to define the number of pages per inch of a book relative to its given basis weight.

Bullet

A boldface square or dot used before a sentence to emphasize its importance.

Bump Exposure

A process used in halftone photography that entails the temporary removal of the screen during exposure. This increases the highlight contrast and diminishes the dots in the whites.

Burn

A term used in plate making to describe the amount of plate exposure time.

Burnish

A term used for the process of "rubbing down" lines and dots on a printing plate, which darkens those rubbed areas.

Burnishing

Creating a polished finish on paper by rubbing with stone or hand smoothing a surface.

Burst Binding

A binding technique that entails nicking the backfold in short lengths during the folding process, which allows glue to reach each individual leaf and create a strong bond.

Cable Paper

A strong paper used to wrap electrical cables.

Cadmium Yellow

A pigment made from cadmium sulfide and cadmium selenide.

Calendar Board

A strong paperboard used for calendars and displays.

Calendar Rolls

A series of metal rolls at the end of a paper machine; when the paper is passed between these rolls it increases its smoothness and glossy surface.

Caliper

The measurement of thickness of paper expressed in thousandths of an inch or mils.

Cameo

A dull coated paper, which is particularly useful in reproducing halftones and engravings.

Camera Ready

A term given to any copy, artwork etc., that is prepared for photographic reproduction.

Canvas Board

A paperboard with a surface of simulated canvas, used for painting.

Cap Line

An imaginary horizontal line running across the tops of capital letters.

Caps & Lower Case

Instructions in the typesetting process that indicate the use of a capital letter to start a sentence and the rest of the letters in lower case.

Caps & Small Caps

Two sizes of capital letters made in one size of type.

Carbon Black

A pigment made of elemental carbon and ash.

Carbon Tissue

A color printing process utilizing pigmented gelatin coatings on paper, which become the resist for etching gravure plates or cylinders.

Carbonate Paper

A chemical pulp paper (calcium carbonate), used mostly for the printing of magazines.

Cartridge

A rough finished paper used for wrapping.

Case

The stiff covers of a hardbound book.

Case Binding

Books bound using hard board (case) covers.

Casein

A milk byproduct used as an adhesive in making coated papers.

Casing In

The process of placing in and adhering a book to its case covers.

Cast Coated

A paper that is coated and then pressure dried using a polished roller which imparts an enamel like hard gloss finish.

Catching Up

A term to describe that period of the printing process where the non-image areas can take on ink or debris.

Chain Lines

Lines that appear on laid paper as a result of the wires of the papermaking machine.

Chalking

A term used to describe the quality of print on paper where the absorption of the paper is so great that it breaks up the ink image creating loose pigment dust.

Chancery Italic

A 13th century handwriting style which is the roots of italic design.

Chase

(old) Frame of steel, or cast or wrought iron, in which images are locked up for printing.

China Clay

An aluminum silica compound used in gravure and screen printing inks. Also called kaolin.

Chrome Green

The resulting ink pigment attained from the mixture of chrome yellow and iron blue.

Chrome Yellow

A lead chromate yellow ink pigment.

Circular Screen

A screen that utilizes a concentric circle pattern as opposed to dots used for halftones and to allow the platemaker to set exact screen angles.

Clay-Coated Boxboard

A strong, easily folded boxboard with clay coating used for making folding boxes.

Coarse Screen

Halftone screens commonly used in newsprint; up to 85 lines per inch.

Coated (Paper)

Paper coated with clay, white pigments and a binder. Better for printing because there is less picking.

Coated Art Paper

Printing papers used for printing projects that require a special treatment of detail and shading.

Coated Stock

Any paper that has a mineral coating applied after the paper is made, giving the paper a smoother finish.

Cold Color

Any color that moves toward the blue side in the color spectrum.

Cold-Set Inks

A variety of inks that are in solid form originally but are melted in a hot press and then solidify when they contact paper.

Collate

To gather sheets or signatures together in their correct order. (see Gather)

Collating Marks

Black step-marks printed on the back of folded sheets, to facilitate collating and checking of the sequence of book signatures.

Collating Marks

Black step-marks printed on the back of folded sheets, to facilitate collating and checking of the sequence of book signatures.

Colophon

A printers or publishers identifying symbol or emblem.

Color Bars

This term refers to a color test strip, which is printed on the waste portion of a press sheet. It is a standardized (GATF-Graphic Arts Technical Foundation) process which allows a pressman to determine the quality of the printed material relative to ink density, registration, and dot gain. It also includes the Star Target, which is a similar system designed to detect inking problems.

Color Separating

The processes of separating the primary color components for printing.

Color Strength

A term referring to the relative amount of pigmentation in an ink.

Color Transparency

Transparent film containing a positive photographic color image.

Column Gutter

Space between two or more columns of type on one page.

Commercial Register

Color registration measured within plus or minus one row of dots.

Composition

The assembly of characters into words, lines and paragraphs of text or body matter for reproduction by printing.

Condensed Type

A narrow, elongated type face.

Contact Print

A print made from contact of a sensitive surface to a negative or positive photograph.

Contact Screen

A halftone screen made on film of graded density, and used in a vacuum contact with the film.

Continuous Tone

Image made of non-discernable picture elements which give appearance of continuous spectrum of grey values or tones.

Contrast

The degree of tonal separation or gradation in the range from black to white.

Contre Jour

Taking a picture with the camera lens facing the light source.

Copy

Refers to any typewritten material, art, photos etc., to be used for the printing process.

Copyboard

A board upon which the copy is pasted for the purpose of photographing.

Corner Marks

Marks on a final printed sheet that indicate the trim lines or register indicators.

Cover

A term describing a general type of papers used for the covers of books, pamphlets etc.

Cracking

Delamination.

Creep

When the rubber blanket on a cylinder moves forward due to contact with the plate or paper. Result of added thickness of folded sheets being behind one another in a folded signature. Outer edges of sheets creep away from back most fold as more folded sheets are inserted inside the middle.

Crop

To eliminate a portion of the art or copy as indicated by crop marks.

Crop Mark

Markings at edges of original or on guide sheet to indicate the area desired in reproduction with negative or plate trimmed (cropped) at the markings.

Cross-over

Elements that cross page boundaries and land on two consecutive pages (usually rules).

Crossmarks

Marks of fine lines, which intersect to indicate accurate alignment of art elements.

Crossover

A term used to describe the effect of ink from an image, rule or line art on one printed page, which carries over to another page of a bound work.

Curl

Not lying flat and tending to form into cylindrical or wavy shapes. A term to describe the differences of either side of a sheet relative to coatings, absorbency etc.; the concave side is the curl side.

Cut-off

A term used in web press printing to describe the point at which a sheet of paper is cut from the roll; usually this dimension is equal to the circumference of the cylinder.

Cutter

Machine for accurately cutting stacks of paper to desired dimensions...can also be used to crease. Also trims out final bound books' top size (soft cover).

Cutting Die

Sharp edged device, usually made of steel, to cut paper, cardboard, etc., on a printing press.

Cyan

A shade of blue used in the four-color process; it reflects blue and green and absorbs red.

Cylinder Gap

The gap in the cylinders of a press where the grippers or blanket clamps is housed.

Dahlgren

A dampening system for printing presses which utilizes more alcohol (25%) and less water; this greatly reduces the amount of paper that is spoiled.

Dampening

An essential part of the printing process whereby cloth covered rubber rollers distributes the dampening solution to the plate.

Dandy Roll

During the paper making process while the paper is still 90% water, it passes over a wire mesh cylinder (dandy roll), which imparts surface textures on the paper such as wove or laid. This is also the stage where the watermark is put onto the paper.

Deckle Edge

The rough or feathered edge of paper when left untrimmed.

Deep Etching

The etching or removal of any unwanted areas of a plate to create more air or white space on the finished product.

An optical device used by printers and photographers to measure and control the density of color.

Density

The lay of paper fibers relative to tightness or looseness which affects the bulk, the absorbency and the finish of the paper.

Density

The degree of tone, weight of darkness or color within a photo or reproduction; measurable by the densitometer. Reference, densitometer.

Descender

A term that describes that portion of lower case letters which extends below the main body of the letter, as in "p".

Diazo

A light sensitive coal tar product used as a coating on presensitized plates, as well as overlay proofs.

Die

Design, letters or shapes, cut into metal (mostly brass) for stamping book covers or embossing. An engraved stamp used for impressing an image or design.

Die Cutting

A method of using sharp steel ruled stamps or rollers to cut various shapes i.e. labels, boxes, image shapes, either post press or in line. The process of cutting paper in a shape or design by the use of a wooden die or block in which are positioned steel rules in the shape of the desired pattern.

Die Stamping

An intaglio process for printing from images engraved into copper or steel plates.

Digital Proof

Color separation data is digitally stored and then exposed to color photographic paper creating a picture of the final product before it is actually printed.

Dimensional stability

The qualities of paper to stabilize its original size when undergoing pressure or exposed to moisture.

Diploma

A fine paper made specifically for the printing of diplomas, certificates and documents.

Direct Screen Halftone

A color separation process using a halftone negative made by direct contact with the halftone screen.

Display Type

Any type that stands out from the rest of the type on a page which attracts attention of the reader.

Distribution Rollers

In the printing process, the rubber coated rollers responsible for the distribution of ink from the fountain to the ink drum.

Doctor Blade

A term in gravure printing which refers to the knife-edge that runs along the printing cylinder; its function is to wipe the excess ink away from the non-printing areas.

Dog Ear

Occurs when you fold into a fold (such as a letter fold). At the side of one of the creases you get an indentation. It may look like a small inverted triangle.

Dot

The smallest individual element of a halftone.

Dot Gain

Darkening of halftone image due to ink absorption in paper causing halftone dots to enlarge. Terms to describe the occurrence whereby dots are printing larger than they should.

Draw-down

A method used by ink makers to determine the color, quality and tone of ink. It entails the drawing of a spatula over a drop of ink, spreading it flat over the paper.

Drier

A term that describes any additives to ink which encourages the drying process.

Drill

The actual drilling of holes into paper for ring or comb binding.

Drop Folio

Page number printed at foot of page.

Drop Shadow

A shadow image placed strategically behind an image to create the affect of the image lifting off the page.

Dry Mount

Pasting with heat sensitive adhesives.

Dry Offset

Process in which a metal plate is etched to a depth of 0.15 mm (0.006 in), making a right-reading relief plate, printed on the offset blanket and then to the paper without the use of water.

Ductor Roller

The roller between the inking and the dampening rollers.

Dull Finish

Any matte finished paper.

Dummy

A term used to describe the preliminary assemblage of copy and art elements to be reproduced in the desired finished product; also called a comp.

Dummy Model

Resembling finished piece in every respect except that the pages and cover are blank, used by the designer as a final check on the appearance and +feel+ of the book as a guide for the size and position of elements on the jacket.

Duotone

Color reproduction from monochrome original. Keyplate usually printed in dark color for detail, second plate printed in light flat tints. A two-color halftone reproduction generated from a one-color photo.

Duplex Paper

Paper which has a different color or finish on each side.

Dutch

Any deckle edged paper, originally produced in the Netherlands. Reference, deckle edge

Dye-Based Ink

Any ink that acquires its color by the use of aniline pigments or dyes. Reference, aniline

Eggshell Finish

The finish of paper surface that resembles an eggshell achieved by omitting the calendar process. Reference, calendar rolls.

Electronic Composition

The assembly of characters into words, lines and paragraphs of text or body matter with graphic elements in page layout form in digital format for reproduction by printing.

Electronic Proof

A process of generating a prepress proof in which paper is electronically exposed to the color separation negatives; the paper is passed through the electrically charged pigmented toners, which adhere electrostatically, resulting in the finished proof.

Elliptical Dot

Halftone screens in which the dots are actually elongated to produce improved middle tones.

Em

A unit of measurement equaling 12 points or 4.5mm.

Embossed

A method of paper finishing whereby a pattern is pressed into the paper when it is dry.

Embossing

To raise in relief a design or letters already printed on card stock or heavy paper by an uninked block or die. In rubber and plastic plate making the process is usually done by heat.

Emulsion

A light sensitive substance used as a coating for film; made from a silver halide compound. This side should face the lens when the film is exposed.

Enamel

A term that describes a glossy coating on paper.

Endsheet

Attaching the final sheet of a signature of a book to the binding.

English Finish

A grade of uncoated book paper with a smooth uniform surface.

Engraving

A printing process whereby images such as copy or art are etched onto a plate. When ink is applied, these etched areas act as small wells to hold the ink; paper is forced against this die and the ink is lifted out of the etched areas creating raised images on the paper.

Estimate

The form used by the printer to calculate the project for the print buyer. This form contains the basic parameters of the project including size, quantity, colors, bleeds, photos etc.

Estimator

One who computes or approximates the cost of work to be done on which quotation may be based.

Etch

The process of producing an image on a plate by the use of acid.

Even Smalls

The use of smaller sized capitals at the beginning of a sentence without the use of larger sized caps.

Expanded Type

Type with width greater than normal producing a rectangular effect.

Exposure

That stage of the photographic process where the image is produced on the light sensitive coating.

Extender

A white pigment added to a colored pigment to reduce its intensity and improve its working qualities.

F&G

A term in the binding process referring to folding and gathering.

Fan Fold

Paper folding that emulates an accordion or fan, the folds being alternating and parallel.

Fat Face

Type that is quite varied in its use of very thin and very wide strokes.

Felt

A cloth conveyor belt that receives papers from the Fourdrinier wire and delivers it to the drier.

Felt Finish

The smoother side of paper, usually a soft weave pattern used for book papers.

Felt Side

It is the top side of the sheet in the paper making process that does not lie on the Fourdrinier wire.

Filling In

A fault in printing where the ink fills in the fine line or halftone dot areas.

Film Coat

Also called wash coat; any thinly coated paper stock.

Finish

The surface quality of paper.

Finish (Paper)

Dull - (low gloss) also matte or matte gloss.

Fist

A symbol used in printing to indicate the index; seen as a pointing finger on a hand "+".

Fit

The registration of items within a given page.

Flash Point

A term given to the lowest temperature of ignitibility of vapors given off by a substance.

Flat

In lithography, the assembly of photographic negatives or positives on vinyl acetate for exposure in vacuum frame in contact with sensitized metal press plate.

Flock Paper

Paper that is patterned by sizing, and than coated with powders of wool or cotton, (flock).

Fluid Ink

Also called liquid ink; ink with a low viscosity.

Flush Cover

A bound book or booklet etc. having the cover trimmed to the same size as the text.

Flushed Pigment

The results of combining a wet ink pigment with a varnish and having the wet pigment mix or transfer over to the varnish.

Fogging Back

Lowering density of an image in a specific area usually to make type more legible while still letting image show through.

Foils

Papers that have a surface resembling metal.

Fold Marks

Markings at top edges that show where folds should occur.

Folder

Machine used to fold signatures down into sections.

Folio or Page Number

Number of page at top or bottom either centered, flushed left or flushed right often with running headline.

Font

The characters which make up a complete typeface and size.

Form Rollers

The rollers that come into direct contact with the plate of a printing press.

Forme

(old) type matter or type and block with its accompanying spacing material secured in the forme called a chase.

Forwarding

In Binding, the process between folding sheets and casing in, such as rounding and backing, putting on headbands, reinforcing backs, etc.

Fourdrinier

A machine with a copper wire screen that receives the pulp slurry in the paper making process which will become the final paper sheet.

Free sheet

Any paper that is free from wood pulp impurities.

French Fold(er)

Folder with printing on one side so that when folded once in each direction, the printing on outside of the folds.

Fringe

A halo that appears around halftone dots.

Fugitive inks

Colors that lose tone and permanency when exposed to light.

Furnish

The slurry mixture of fibers, water, chemicals and pigments, that is delivered to the Fourdrinier machine in the paper making process.

Fuzz

A term for the fibers that project from the paper surface.

Galley

(old) flat oblong tray into which composed type matter is put and kept until made up into pages in the forme. Also a similar tray on a slug composing machine which receives the slugs as they are ejected. Also a long column of composed text matter

Galley Proof

A proof of text copy before it is pasted into position for printing.

Galley Slave

Old term for compositor.

Gang

Group of frames or impositions in the same forme of different jobs arranged and positioned to be printed together.

Ganging

The bundling of two or more different printing projects on the same sheet of paper.

Gather

To assemble or collect sections into single copies of complete books for binding.

Gathering

Assembling sheets of paper and signatures into their proper sequence; collating.

Ghosting

Image which appears as a lighter area on a subsequent print due to local blanket depressions from previous image areas on a letterpress rotary machine as well as on an offset press.

Ghosting

Marring a print by the placement of an image of work printed on the reverse side which has interfered with its drying so that differences in the trapping frame colors or glass variations are apparent.

Gigo

Garbage in, garbage out.

Gilding

Sticking on gold leaf to edges of books with a liquid agent and made permanent with burnishing tools.

Glassine

A strong transparent paper.

Gloss Ink

Quick drying oil based inks with low penetration qualities, used on coated stock.

Glyphic

A carved as opposed to scripted typeface.

Goldenrod

An orange colored paper with gridlines, used to assemble materials for exposure for platemaking.

Graduated Screen

An area of image where halftone dots range continuously from one density to another.

Grain

Direction of fibers in a sheet of paper governing paper properties such as increased size changes with relative humidity, across the grain, and better folding properties along the grain.

Grained Paper

A paper embossed to resemble various textures, such as leather, alligator, wood, etc.

Gravure

An intaglio or recessed printing process. The recessed areas are like wells that form the image as paper passes through.

Gripper

A series of metal fingers that hold each sheet of paper as it passes through the various stages of the printing process.

Gripper Edge

The grippers of the printing press move the paper through the press by holding onto the leading edge of the sheet; this edge is the gripper edge.

Groundwood

Low cost papers such as newsprint made by the mechanical pulping process as opposed to chemical pulping and refining.

Gumming

The application of gum arabic to the non printing areas of a plate.

Gutter

Space between pages in the printing frame of a book, or inside margin towards the back or binding edge. The blank space or margin between the type page and the binding of a book.

Hairline register

Printing registration that lies within the range of plus or minus one half row of dots. It is the thinnest of the standard printers' rules.

A sheet of film or glass containing ruled right-angled lines, used to translate the full tone of a photo to the halftone dot image required for printing.

Hard Dot

The effect in a photograph where a dot has such a small degree of halation that the dot shows quite sharp.

Head Margin

That space which lies between the top of the printed copy and the trimmed edge.

Hickies

Imperfections in presswork due to dirt on press, trapping errors, etc.

High Bulk Paper

Paper stock that is comparatively thick in relation to its basis weight.

High Key Halftone

A halftone that is made utilizing only the highlight tones down through the middle tones.

Highlight Dot

The highest density of a halftone image.

Highlights

The lightest tones of a photo, printed halftone or illustration. In the finished halftone, these highlights are represented by the finest dots.

Hollow

That space on the spine of a case bound book between the block of the book and the case binding.

Hot melt

An adhesive used in the binding process, which requires heat for application.

House Sheet

This is a term that refers to a paper that a printer keeps on hand in his shop.

IBC

Inside back cover.

IFC

Inside front cover.

Image Area

That portion of the printing plate that carries the ink and prints on paper.

Image Setter

High resolution, large format device for producing film from electronically generated page layouts.

Imposition

Arrangement of pages so that they print correctly on a press sheet, and the pages are in proper order when the sheets are folded.

Impression

Product resulting from one cycle of printing machine. The pressure of the image carrier, whether it be the type, plate or blanket, when it contacts the paper.

Index Bristol

A relatively thick paper stock; basis size---25 1/2 x 30 1/2.

Indicia

Markings pre-printed on mailing envelopes to replace the stamp.

Industrial Papers

A term used to denote papers such as janitorial, sanitary or heavy packing papers.

Ink Fountain

The device which stores and meters ink to the inking rollers.

Ink Holdout

A quality of paper to be resistant to ink absorption, allowing the ink to dry on the paper surface.

Ink Mist

Any threads or filaments which protrude from the main printed letter body of long inks, as seen in newsprint.

Ink Setting

The inertial resistance to flow that occurs to ink as soon as it is printed.

Inkometer

A device used to measure the tack of ink.

Inserts

Extra printed pages inserted loosely into printed pieces.

Integral Proof

A proof made by exposing each of the four-color separations to an emulsion layer of primary colors. These emulsion sheets are stacked in register with a white sheet of paper in the background. Types of integral proofs are cromalin, matchprint, ektaflex, and spactraproof.

Interleaves

Extra blank pages inserted loosely into book after printing.

Iridescent Paper

A coated stock finished in mother-of-pearl.

Italic

Text that is used to denote emphasis by slanting the type body forward.

Jacket

The paper cover sometimes called the "dust cover" of a hardbound book.

Job Number

A number assigned to a printing project used for record keeping and job tracking. Also used to retrieve old jobs for reprints or reworking by customer.

Jog

To vibrate a stack of finished pages so that they are tightly aligned for final trimming.

Jogger

Vibrating, sloping platform that evens up the edges of stacks of paper.

Kerning

The narrowing of space between two letters so that they become closer and take up less space on the page.

Key Plate

The printing plate that is used as a guide for the other plates in the color printing process; it usually has the most detail.

Keying

The use of symbols, usually letters, to code copy that will appear on a dummy.

Keyline

Lines that are drawn on artwork that indicate the exact placement, shape and size of elements including halftones, illustrations etc.

Kiss Impression

A delicate printed impression, just heavy enough to be seen.

Kraft

A coarse unbleached paper used for printing and industrial products.

Lacquer

A clear gloss coating applied to printed material for strength, appearance and protection.

Laid Finish

A parallel lined paper that has a handmade look.

Laser Engraving

A paper cutting technique whereby laser technology is utilized to cut away certain unmasked areas of the paper. The cutting is a result of the exposure of the paper to the laser ray, which actually evaporates the paper.

Lay Edge

Edge of a sheet of paper being fed into a printing press.

Layout

A rendition that shows the placement of all the elements, roughs, thumbnails etc., of the final printed piece before it goes to print.

Leaders

The dots or dashes used in type to guide the eye from one set of type to the next.

Leading

Space between lines of type; the distance in points between one baseline and the next.

Leaf

One of a number of folds (each containing two pages) which comprises a book or manuscript.

Leaf Stamping

A metal die, either (flat, or embossed), created from the image or copy, which is then heated to a specific temperature which allows the transfer of a film of pigmented polyester to the paper.

Ledger Paper

A stiff heavy business paper generally used for keeping records.

Length

The optimum length of a filament of ink.

Letterpress

Printing that utilizes inked raised surfaces to create the image.

Letterspacing

The addition of space between typeset letters.

Line Copy

Any copy that can be reproduced without the use of halftone screens.

Linen

A paper that emulates the look and texture of linen cloth.

Lithocoated Paper

A paper that is coated with a special water-resistant material which is able to withstand the lithographic process.

Lithography

The process of printing that utilizes flat inked surfaces to create the printed images.

Logotype

A personalized type or design symbol for a company or product.

M weight

The actual weight of 1000 sheets of any given size of paper.

Machine Coated

Paper that has had a coating applied to either one or two of its sides during the papermaking process.

Machine Direction

An alternate term for grain direction.

Machine Finish

A paper finish that results from the interaction of the paper with the Fourdrinier process as opposed to post machine embossing. Reference, Fourdrinier

When the basis weight of paper differs from the actual weight, the term nominal weight is used.

OA Of Register

When two sheet passes on a press are misaligned.

OBC

Outside back cover.

Oblong

A term used to describe printed books, catalogs etc., that are bound on their shorter side; also referred to as album bound.

OFC

Outside front cover.

Off-shore Paper

Any papers made outside the US and Canada.

Offset

The most commonly used printing method, whereby the printed material does not receive the ink directly from the printing plate but from an intermediary cylinder called a blanket which receives the ink from the plate and transfers it to the paper.

Offset Gravure

A complex offset process involving multiple transfers between the gravure plate, the plate cylinder and a solid rubber plate.

Offset Lithography

Indirect printing method in which the inked image on the press-plate is first printed onto a rubber blanket, then in turn offsets the inked impression on to the sheet of paper.

Offset Paper

A term for uncoated book paper.

Onionskin

A light bond paper used for typing and used with carbon paper because of its thinness.

Opacity

Quality of papers that defines its opaqueness or ability to prevent two-sided printing from showing through.

Opaque

A quality of paper that allows relatively little light to pass through.

Opaque Ink

Ink that completely covers any ink under itself.

Orthochromatic

Any light sensitive surfaces that are not sensitive to red.

Over Run

Surplus of copies printed.

Overhang Cover

A cover of a book that extends over the trimmed signatures it contains.

Overlay

A transparent sheet placed over artwork, in register with the work it covers; this is used to call out other color components of the work, instructions or corrections.

Overlay Proof

A process of proof making whereby the color separations are individually exposed to light sensitive film. This film is then set in registration with a piece of white paper in the background.

Overprinting

Any printing that is done on an area that has already been printed.

Overset

Type that is set in excess of the allotted space.

Page

One side of a leaf.

Page Makeup

The assemblage of all the necessary elements required to complete a page.

Page Proofs

Proofs made up from pages.

Panchromatic

Films or other photographic materials that are sensitive to all colors.

Paperboard

Any paper with a thickness (caliper) of 12 points (.3mm) or more.

Papeterie

A high-grade soft paper used for personal stationery because it accepts handwriting well.

Parchment

A hard finished paper that emulates animal skin; used for documents, such as awards, that require writing by hand.

Parent Sheet

A sheet that is larger than the cut stock of the same paper.

Paste Drier

Any of a variety of compounds used in enhancing the drying properties of printing inks.

Paste Ink

An ink having a high level of viscosity.

Paste-up

Preparation of positive materials into a layout for photographing to film negatives.

Peeling

Delamination.

Perf Marks

Markings usually dotted lines at edges showing where perforations should occur.

Perfect

A term used to describe the binding process where the signatures of a book are held together by a flexible adhesive.

Perfect Binding

Binding process where backs of sections are cut off, roughened and glued together, and rung in a cover.

Perfecting

Printing both sides of the paper (or other material) on the same pass through the printing machine.

Perfecting Press

A printing press that prints on both sides of the page in a single pass.

Perforating

Punching small holes or slits in a sheet of paper or cardboard to facilitate tearing along a desired line.

Phloxine

A blue red pigment used mostly in news inks; not a good ink for lithographers as it bleeds in alcohol and water.

Photoengraving

Making printing plates by exposure of line and halftone negatives on sensitized metal, converting the image into an acid resist, and etching the print to the relief required for letterpress printing.

Photomechanical

The platemaking process where plates are coated with photosensitive coatings and exposed to photo negatives or positives.

Photostat

A photographic print creating an image using photography and electrostatic processes; also called a stat.

When the tack of ink is stronger than the surface strength of the paper, some lifting of the paper surface occurs; this is referred to as picking.

Picking (2)

An occurrence in printing whereby the tack of ink pulls fibers or coating off the paper surface, leaving spots on the printed surface.

Piling

A build up of pigment or paper coatings onto the plate, blankets or rollers.

Pin Register

Using metal pins fitted into preset holes of copy sheets, films, plates and presses that will assure the proper registration.

Pinholing

Failure of printed ink to form a completely continuous film, visible in the form of small holes in the printed areas.

Plastic Comb

A method of binding books whereby holes are drilled on the side closest the spine, and a plastic grasping device is inserted to hold the pages together.

Plasticizer

An ink additive that adds flexibility, softness and adhesion.

Plate

Reproduction of type or cuts in metal, plastic, rubber, or other material, to form a plate bearing a relief, planographic or intaglio printing surface.

Plate Cylinder

The cylinder on a printing press on which the plate is mounted.

Plate Finish

Any bond, cover or bristol stock with an extremely smooth finish achieved by calendaring.

Platemaking

Making a printing plate from a film or flat including preparation of the plate surface, sensitizing, exposing through the flat, developing or processing, and finishing.

PMT

Photomechanical transfer.

Point

A measurement unit equal to 1/72 of an inch. 12 points to a pica, 72 points to an inch.

Positive

Film that contains an image with the same tonal values as the original; opposite of a negative.

Ppi

Pixels per inch.

Premium

Any paper that is considered better than #1 by its manufacturer.

Presensitized Plate

A plate that has been treated with light sensitive coatings by the manufacturer.

Press-Proof

Actual press sheet to show image, tone values and colors as well as imposition of frame or press-plate.

Primary Colors

In printing the four primary colors are cyan (blue), magenta (red), yellow and black.

Printability

The quality of papers to show reproduced printed images.

Printers Pairs

Two consecutive pages as they appear on a flat or signature.

Process Inks

Printing inks, usually in sets of four colors. The most frequent combination is yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, which are printed, one over another in that order, to obtain a colored print with the desired hues, whites, blacks, and grays.

Process Lens

A high quality specialty lens made for line art, halftone and color photography.

Process Printing

Printing from two or more half tones to produce intermediate colors and shades.

Progressive Proofs

Any proofs made from the separate plates of a multi-plate-printing project.

Proof

Impression from composed type or blocks, taken for checking and correction, from a lithographic plate to check accuracy of layout, type matter, tone and color reproduction.

Pull For Position

Guide sheet for the positioning of type, blocks, etc.

Rag paper

Papers with a complete or partial content of cotton fibers.

Ragged Left

The term given to right-justified type that is uneven on the left.

Ragged Right

The term given to left-justified type that is uneven on the right.

Railroad Board

A thick, coated paper used for signs; usually waterproof.

Readers Pairs

Two consecutive pages as they appear in printed piece.

Ream

500 sheets of paper.

Recto

The odd numbered pages (right hand side) of books.

Red Lake "C"

A common pigment for paste and liquid red inks.

Reducer

Any substance that softens and reduces the tack of ink.

Reel

The master roll of paper as it comes off the papermaking machine. It is in its original width and is then cut into smaller rolls.

Register

The arrangement of two or more images in exact alignment with each other.

Register Marks

Any crossmarks or other symbols used on layout to assure proper registration.

Right Angle Fold

A term that denotes folds that are 90 degrees to each other.

Roll To Roll

A web press printing process where the roll of paper is printed and stored on a roll to be shipped.

Rub Proof

That stage of printed ink where the maximum dryness is achieved, and the ink will not smudge.

Rubine

A pigment somewhat redder than true magenta.

Run-Around

A term given to copy that accommodates the lines of a picture or other image or copy.

Runability

A term used to describe how well a paper runs on a printing press.

Running Head

A title at the top of a page that appears on all pages of a book or chapter of a book.

Saddle Stitching

Stitching where the wire staples pass through the spine from the outside and are clinched in the center. Only used with folded sections, either single sections or two or more sections inset to form a single section.

Safety Paper

A paper that shows sign of erasure so that it cannot be altered or tampered with easily.

Satin Finish

A smooth delicately embossed finished paper with sheen.

Scaling

The enlargement or reduction of an image or copy to fit a specific area.

Score

Impressions or cuts in flat material to facilitate bending or tearing.

A measurement equaling the number of lines or dots per inch on a halftone screen.

Screened Print

A photo print made by using a halftone negative; also called a velox.

Scum

Unwanted ink marks in the non-image area.

Self Cover

A cover made out of the same paper stock as the internal sheets.

Shadow Dot

The lowest density of a halftone image.

Sharpen

To decrease the dot size of the halftone which in turn decreases the color strength.

Sheetwise

The printing of two different images on two different sides of a sheet of paper by turning the page over after the first side is printed and using the same gripper and side guides.

Short Ink

Ink that is smooth and creamy but does not flow freely.

Show Through

A problem that occurs when the printing on one side of a sheet is seen from the other side.

Side Guide

The guides on the sides of the sheet fed press that position the sheet sideways as the paper is led towards the front guides.

Side Stitching

Stitching where the wire staples pass through the pile of sections or leaves gathered upon each other and are clinched on the underside.

Signature (Section)

Printed sheet (or its flat) that consists of a number of pages of a book, placed so that they will fold and bind together as a section of a book. The printed sheet after folding.

Silhouette halftone

A halftone with the background screen removed.

Silverprint

Reference, brownline proof.

Slitting

A term to describe the process of cutting of printed sheets by the cutting wheels of a printing press.

Smoothness

That quality of paper defined by its levelness which allows for pressure consistency in printing, assuring uniformity of print.

Soft Dot

An excessively large halo around a dot in a photograph that causes a fringe that diminishes the dot intensity.

Spine

Back edge of a book.

Spiral Bind

A binding whereby a wire or plastic is spiraled through holes punched along the binding side.

Spot Color

Small area printed in a second color.

Spread

A film image that is larger than the original image to accommodate ink trapping. Reference, trapping

Stabbing

To bind a series of pages with wire staples such that staples enter from the front and back simultaneously, neither side being long enough to exit the opposite side.

Stability

The quality of paper to maintain its original size when it undergoes pressure and moisture changes.

Stagger Cutting

A process of cutting many sheets from the same parent sheet in which the smaller sheets have different grain directions; also called dutch or bastard cutting.

Star Target

The Graphic Arts Technical Foundation, GATF has established various quality control images; the star target appears along with the color bar and helps the pressman detect any irregularity in the ink spread. Reference, Color Bars

Static Neutralizer

A device on a printing press that minimizes the amount of static build up on paper as it passes through the press.

Step And Repeat

A process of generating multiple exposures by taking an image and stepping it according to a predetermined layout.

Stet

A proofreader's symbol that is usually written in the copy margin, that indicates that the copy, which was marked for correction, should be left as it was.

Stock

A term for unprinted paper or other material to be printed.

Strip-In

To add an element, such as copy that is shot separately, and then stripped into place on a goldenrod flat.

Stripping

Originally, the removal of the photographic emulsion with its image from individual negatives and combining them in position on a glass plate. Now the use of stripfilm materials, and the cutting, attachment, and other operations for assembling. The positioning of positives and negatives on the flat before proceeding to platemaking.

Stumping Or Blocking

Impressing book covers, etc., by means of hot die, brass types or blocks.

Super Calendaring

A machine procedure that produces a high finished paper surface that is extremely smooth and exceptional for printing.

Synthetic Papers

Any petroleum based waterproof papers with a high tensile strength.

Tack

The adhesive quality of inks.

Tag

A dense, strong paper stock.

Tensile Strength

A paper's ability to withstand pressure.

Text

A high quality printing paper.

Thermography

A printing process whereby slow drying ink is applied to paper and while the ink is still wet, it is lightly dusted with a resinous powder. The paper then passes through a heat chamber where the powder melts and fuses with the ink to produce a raised surface.

Through Drier

A slower drier that dries the ink throughout without forming a hard crust.

Ticket Envelope

Envelopes used mostly for theater tickets, with no other particular usage.

Tint

A halftone screen that contains all the same sized dots.

Titanium Oxide

A bright white pigment (opaque) used for printing on metal and flexible packaging.

Toluidine Red

A red pigment with poor bleed resistance.

Tooth

The rough surfaced finish of papers such as vellum or antique.

Transparent

Inks that do not block out the colored inks that they print over, but instead blend with them to create intermediate colors.

Trapping

The process of printing wet ink over printed ink which may be wet or dry.

Trim Marks

Marks placed on the sheet to indicate where to cut the page.

Twin Wire Machine

Fourdrinier papermaking machines with two wires, instead of a wire and felt side. This assures higher quality when two sides are used for printing.

Two-sidedness

The difference in feel and appearance of either side of a sheet of paper due to the papermaking process having a felt and wire side.

Uncalendared

Papers that are not smoothed by going through the calendaring process.

Up

A term used to describe how many similar sheets can be produced on a larger sheet; two up, four up, etc.

Upright

A term given to books bound on the longer dimension.

Vacuum Frame

Also called a contact frame; used in the platemaking process to hold materials in tight contact during exposure.

Vandyke

Brown print

Varnish

A clear shiny ink used to add gloss to printed pieces. The primary component of the ink vehicle. Reference, vehicle.

Vehicle

A combination of varnish, waxes, dryers etc., that contain the pigment of inks and control the flow, the drying and the adhesion of the pigments to the printed surface.

Vellum

A finish of paper that is rough, bulky and has a degree of tooth.

Velour Paper

A term given to papers that are coated with an adhesive and then flock dusted.

Velox

A photographic print which is made from a negative.

Verso

A term given to the left-hand or even-numbered pages of a book.

Vignette

Fade to white or small decorative design or illustration. A photo or illustration etc., in which the tones fade gradually away until they blend with the surface they are printed on.

W&B

An abbreviation for work and back. Reference, sheetwise.

W&T

An abbreviation for work and turn.

Walk-off

A term given to the occurrence of plate deterioration of the image area during the printing process; usually occurs on long runs.

Washup

The procedure of cleaning a particular ink from all of the printing elements (rollers, plate, ink fountain etc.) of a press.

Watermark

A translucent logo that is embossed during the papermaking process while the paper slurry is on the dandy roll. Reference, dandy roll

Web

The roll of paper that is used in web or rotary printing.

Web Break

A tear in a web roll during the printing process.

Web Press

Cylinder printing machine in which the paper is fed from a continuous reel, as opposed to sheet fed.

Web Tension

The term given to the tension or pull exerted by the web press on the web roll.

Wedding Paper

A soft paper that is thick and holds up well under embossing.

Wet Trapping

The ability of an ink film to accept subsequent ink films.

Widow

A single word or two left at the end of a paragraph, or a part of a sentence ending a paragraph, which loops over to the next page and stands alone. Also, the last sentence of a paragraph which contains only one or two short words.

Wipe On Plate

A plate on which is wiped a light sensitive coating by a coating device; usually the first step in this type of platemaking.

Wire Side

That side of the paper which lies on the wire screen side of the papermaking machine.

Wire Stitching Or Stapling

To fasten together sheets, signatures, or sections with wire staples. 3 methods... saddle stitching, side stitching, and stabbing.

Wove

A smooth paper made on finely textured wire that gives the paper a gentle patterned finish.